College Expectations

How long will it take me to finish?

A good starting point is a scheduled meeting with an assigned academic adviser. Students can schedule an appointment through the MU Connect Success Network. There are also other resources available, such as Degree Audits and Advising Worksheets. Remember that students should meet with an adviser in addition to using these resources.

What should I do if I’m interested in studying abroad?

The first contact should be with the Study Abroad Office. There are some programs run through specific colleges or schools at the University of Missouri. As an example, the Department of Health Sciences within the School of Health Professions offers several different study abroad experiences during summer and winter breaks. School of Health Professions advisers can provide more information on School of Health Professions’ specific study abroad opportunities.

How do I calculate my GPA?

The Registrar’s Office offers a GPA Calculator. An academic adviser can direct a student to finding other specific GPAs such as a University of Missouri-Columbia GPA or cumulative (overall) GPA. Many graduate and professional programs will request a specific GPA such as last 60 credit hours, pre-requisite GPA, and/or science GPA. It is best for the student to clarify what is being asked with the institution or program to which they may apply, as they will ultimately evaluate the application to their standards.

Registering for Classes/ Early Registration

First and foremost, students will receive at least one email from your School of Health Professions academic adviser with instructions on the steps needed to follow in order to successfully enroll.

Early registration for spring semesters will occur from late October through November. Early registration for summer and fall semesters will occur in March. Students are assigned an enrollment appointment, visible in myZou shortly before the start of early registration during the fall and spring semesters. Enrollment appointments are assigned by the Registrar’s Office and are determined according to how many credit hours a student has completed (seniors enroll soonest, juniors later, etc.). An enrollment appointment is not a meeting with an academic adviser—instead, it marks the earliest day and time a student can enroll for the upcoming semester in myZou.

Students may change their course schedules at any time in myZou from the time of their enrollment appointment until one week into the regular semester (fall and spring) or 3 days into the 8-week summer semester. Keep in mind that holds may prevent a student from dropping, adding, or withdrawing from a course; see “Holds” in this FAQ for more information.

Differences between myZou, Schedule Planner, Canvas, and MU Connect

MyZou is the University of Missouri’s online registration system. It is used to complete tasks including registering for classes and updating personal information. Read more.

Schedule Planner is a feature in myZou that helps students to consider all variables when creating a class schedule–including course preferences, work schedules, and other obligations. Schedule Planner does NOT enroll students in courses. Rather, enrollment is completed though myZou.

Canvas is an educational learning technology used by instructors to store course material, administer quizzes, and store course-specific grades (students’ final official grades are posted in myZou). Not all instructors use Canvas. To confirm enrollment in a course and to see final course grades, students must use myZou.

MU Connect is where students are able to schedule appointments with people and services via their “My Success Network.” MU Connect is available 24/7. School of Health Professions students use MU Connect to schedule appointments with their adviser. Students may also receive alerts from instructors, advisers, and other campus personnel via MU Connect.

Holds

I have a hold in myZou. What do I do?

Holds are visible in myZou from the Student Center, under “Holds.” If a student has a hold listed, they should click on the hold for detailed information about what the hold is and which office to contact to resolve it. The School of Health Professions Office of Student Services cannot remove holds unless they are “Health Professions” holds. Students should refer to their e-mail if they have a Health Professions hold; instructions on how to remove that hold will have been e-mailed.

Transferring Credit

How do I know which classes will transfer to the University of Missouri?

Please check online to see how a course will transfer to Mizzou. If a student is interested in transferring to the School of Health Professions, they are encouraged to meet with an academic adviser by calling 573-882-8011. If a student has not yet applied to the University of Missouri, they should plan to provide an unofficial transcript from all institutions attended. Official transcripts should be sent only to the Admissions Office. If a student plans to attend the University of Missouri, they will apply here.

How do I transfer credit to the University of Missouri?

Please send your official transcripts to the University of Missouri Admissions Office located in 230 Jesse Hall, Columbia, MO 65211. Students are required to disclose all credit earned at other institutions to the University of Missouri according to the Code of Conduct. To confirm that your transcript has been received, please call 573-882-7786.

How will my grades transfer to the University of Missouri? Is the credit pass/fail?

Courses taken at UM System schools (MU, UMSL, UMKC, UM-S&T) will factor into a student’s cumulative UM System GPA, which is visible in myZou. While credit taken through a non-UM System school is not reflected in the UM System GPA, both the grade and credit transfer to MU and are included on unofficial and official Mizzou transcripts. The grade earned in the course will be factored into a student’s cumulative GPA, which includes all UM-system and transfer credit.

Failing, Dropping, and Withdrawing from Classes

I’m currently failing a class. Should I stay in it, drop it, or change it to credit/no credit?

It is most important for students to discuss the course with the instructor and academic adviser. Dropping below 12 credit hours in a fall or spring semester could affect Financial Aid. If a student has questions regarding Financial Aid, they should contact their Financial Aid Adviser. Before students withdraw, they should consider any possible impact on status, eligibility, and services, and should contact applicable offices such as Cashiers, Student Financial Aid, Veterans Center, Residential Life, Athletics, International Center, and personal insurance carriers.

When is the deadline to drop a class?

Students can drop a class in myZou until the last day to drop a course without a grade. This information is found on the Registrar’s Academic Calendar. Check the posted deadlines for classes that meet for the full semester or term. Students may also check the drop and withdraw dates in myZou by clicking on the calendar icon next to the course information in their Student Center.

What is the difference between dropping and withdrawing?

Dropping a course is when a student removes a course from their course schedule in myZou before the posted deadline to drop a course without a grade. In the case of a drop, the course does not appear on the student’s transcript.
If a student drops a course after the last day to drop a course without a grade, the process is referred to as withdrawing from a course. Before students withdraw, they should consider any possible impact on status, eligibility, and services, and should contact applicable offices such as Cashiers, Student Financial Aid, Veterans Center, Residential Life, Athletics, International Center, and personal insurance carriers.

Please follow these steps to properly withdraw from a course:

If a student wants to withdraw from a course, it is important to be aware of the deadlines, which can be found here. To withdraw from a course, please take the following steps:
1. If it is within the deadline, verify with the instructor via email that you will receive either a “W” or an “F” for withdrawing. Keep this email for your records and forward a copy to your academic adviser, as there are some instances where grades are entered incorrectly.
2. Verify that withdrawing from this course will not drop you below 12 credit hours (full-time status). If it does, please speak with the Financial Aid Office to verify if or how going below full-time will impact your financial aid.
3. Print and fill out a Course Withdrawal form to withdraw from a course.
4. Bring the form to 101 Lewis Hall. We will provide the appropriate form approvals – please note that a student’s instructor does not sign the withdrawal form.
5. Once the form is completely filled out and approved by an academic adviser, you will take it to 125 Jesse Hall for processing. The course withdrawal will not be complete until all of the steps are completed.

Please follow these steps to properly withdraw from the term:

If you want to withdraw from the term, it is important to be aware of the deadlines, which can be found here. To withdraw from the term, please take the following steps:
1. If it is within the deadline, verify with the instructor via email that you will receive either a “W” or an “F” for withdrawing. Keep this email for your records and forward a copy to your academic adviser, as there are some instances where grades are entered incorrectly.
2. Before students withdraw, they should consider any possible impact on status, eligibility, and services, and should contact applicable offices such as Cashiers, Student Financial Aid, Veterans Center, Residential Life, Athletics, International Center, and personal insurance carriers.
3. Print and fill out a Term Withdrawal form to withdraw from the term.
4. Bring in the form to 101 Lewis Hall. We will provide the appropriate form approvals – please note that your instructor does not sign the withdrawal form.
5. Once you have the form completely filled out and approved by an academic adviser, you will take it to 125 Jesse Hall for processing. The term withdrawal will not be complete until you complete all of these steps.

What happens to my grade if I repeat a course?

This question is best answered by your academic adviser. Many factors come into play, including but not limited to: where the course is retaken, how many times the course is taken, and the grade assigned for the first attempt of the course. The University of Missouri has a Course Repeat Policy, which students are encouraged to review prior to contacting their academic adviser.